Miss June 2012

This month’s Sexy Bad Ass vegan is from our neighboring country of Canada… When she is not whipping up one of her delicious dishes you can find her nose deep in a book learning more about Hydrotherapy… Yeah I know right!!! Make sure you check out Miss June: Amira!

Name: Amira Where do you live and where are you from? Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Age? 27 years old and a fiery Aries!

What do you do for a living/profession? I am a Product Development Director for an awesome, grass roots, fair trade clothing label. I am also a registered yoga teacher and currently working towards my colon hydrotherapy certification.

What do you like to do for fun? I have a serious quench for knowledge – I live to learn! My mantra is learn something new and teach something old every single day! My other passions are drawing, reading, writing poetry, cooking, laughing, yoga and working out.

How long have you been vegan? I’ve been a vegan for four years baby and loving every minute of it.

Why did you become vegan? I read the book How To Practice The Way To A More Meaningful Life by the Dalai Lama and felt compelled to be more compassionate towards all sentient beings. I immediately stopped eating meat before I was even done the book! To my surprise I started looking and feeling more vibrant than ever within weeks, so I decided to jump in with both feet and go 100% Vegan and never look back.

How was your transition? People always ask me this question and I always tell them: IT WAS EASY. Why? Because I truly believed in it, the words in the Dalai Lama’s book affected me in such a profound way – my belief in a compassionate lifestyle was much more powerful than any meat or dairy craving. What made it even easier was seeing and feeling the positive effects of a vegan diet: easy weight loss, radiant skin, and a dramatic increase in energy! Once I got a taste of optimal health, I wasn’t tempted to go back to a lifestyle that had me feeling sluggish and unhealthy ever again!

What is the funniest misconception(s) that you have heard about vegans? Ah, heard too many funny things! Vegans are all hippies. Vegans are “emo” social outcasts. Vegans are all too judgmental and they hate meat eaters – and the list goes on… Haha!

What is your Favorite thing(s) about being a vegan? I love the peace of mind that comes along with being a vegan. I know that I am doing my best for myself, for the animals and for the planet. I also loving waking up and feeling fantastic, radiant and healthy in all aspects: mind, body and spirit.

What do you think makes a Sexy Bad Ass Vegan? I am a Sexy Bad Ass Vegan because I am true to myself and my beliefs. Let’s face it, it’s pretty trendy to be “green” and “ecofriendly” these days but it goes beyond using a stainless steel bottle instead of plastic! The lifestyle I’ve embraced is a living example of the love I have for myself, for the animals and for our planet. What makes me even more badass is the fact that I am opinionated, but I try my best not to be judgmental. I understand that we are all individuals with different levels of consciousness and I do not push my lifestyle onto anyone who is not ready to understand it or accept it. I simply lead by example – by being me! And guess what? I’ve influenced so many people to change their lifestyle effortlessly.

What is the best vegan dish that you make in your kitchen? I don’t cook all that often because I am a raw vegan and I am also an extremely simple and clean eater. I will share my favorite smoothie recipe that I love to drink in the summer – Mango-Pineapple-Mango smoothie. 2 ripe mangos 1 ripe pineapple Coconut meat & water from 1 young coconut ½ Cup ice (or more depending on how thick you want it) Blend in the Vitamix and enjoy!

BAV: “Oh how we all love our Vitamix Blenders”

What is the best Vegan Restaurant you have ever had the pleasure of eating at? Hands down the best cooked vegan restaurant I have ever been to is Fressen in Toronto, Ontario –their menu is off the chain, even my most carnivorous friends end up going back for more! My favorite raw vegan restaurant would have to be Crudessence in Montreal, QC Canada – great food and great ambiance.

What advice do you have for those that are thinking of transitioning to a vegan lifestyle? Do your research. Read a lot. Whether you’re driven by spirituality or health, find some books and get your read on – make an informed decision, that way you’re less likely to have difficulty during your transitional phase. If you’ve done your research and you truly believe, if your heart is really in it then it will be a piece of cake! (Vegan of course 🙂 ) I would also recommend reaching out to other Vegans within your community, or even online. Check for local potlucks and events where you can find support and make friends with liked-minded individuals to keep you motivated and help you with any potential bumps along the road.

Do you have a website to share with the BAV nation? Yes I do! I just launched a new website! Check out my blog posts, news and events and http://www.amirazekry.com – Look out for some e-books coming out soon! If anyone has any questions relating to veganism, nutrition, yoga or exercise feel free to contact me and I will be glad to respond with a detailed blog post! I am eager to help anyone in need of advice and support.